Textile spool



Oct 1967 G. A. POTEAT, JR 3,347,439

TEXT ILE S POOL Filed Dec. 18, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IIVVEIVTOR BYWWQM,W%

ATTORNEYS $50G? fi. OTE'AIZJR Uct. 1'7, 1967 G. A. POTEAT, JR

TEXTILE SPOOL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 18, 1964 F/GMZ lNl/ENTR TEAT, JR. aYiZ/Z WMvQMZMM ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,347,489 TEXTILE SPOOL George A. Poteat, Jr., Greensboro, N .C., assignor to Engineered Plastics, Incorporated, Gibsonville, N.C. Filed Dec. 18, 1964, Ser. No. 419,421 2 Claims. (c1. 242118.61)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A textile spool comprises a barrel having the end flange secured by a split retaining ring expanded into locking engagement with an annular recess in the barrel and a frusto-conical surface in the flange by an internal plug.

This invention relates to textile apparatus and, more particularly, to spools for holding filamentary material wound thereon. The invention also includes improved means of assembling such spools.

Modern winding and reeling machines operate at such greatly increased speeds that it has become advisable to increase the capacity of spools in order to accommodate longer and longer lengths of material wound thereon in order to increase to a maximum the amount of time that the spool, or other holder can be run before it becomes filled and has to be replaced.

Not only have the lengths of spools been increased but also the diameter of their end flanges has been enlarged to allow additional layers of windings. This has resulted in a marked increase in axial forces exerted outwardly against the flanges, tending to separate them from the barrel portion.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved type of spool capable of withstanding excessive axial loads without separation of the flange from the barrel.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an improved form of locking mechanism for securing an end flange to a spool barrel.

Other objects and advantages will be evident to those skilled in the art after reading the following specification, in which:

In the drawings FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional elevation of a preferred form of spool constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention, the spool being broken away at two intermediate locations to conserve space on the drawing; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an extruded strip used to form the locking ring; FIG. 3 is a plan view of the completed locking ring used for securing the various elements of the spool; FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional elevation of one end of a modified form of spool made in accordance with this invention at one stage in its assembly; and, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional elevation of one end of the modified form of spool when completed.

In the drawing a preferred form of spindle is shown in FIG. 1, comprising an elongated cylindrical barrel 10, preferably fabricated of aluminum or other suitable material, having an end flange, or head, 11- at its lower end and a flange 12 at its upper end. Flanges 11 and 12 are provided with central openings, indicated generally by numerals 13 and 14 respectively. These openings are counterbored from their inner faces outwardly for a portion of their distance, as at 15 and 16, to snugly receive the respective ends of the barrel 10. The outer surface of the barrel may be left bare if desired but preferably it is coated with a thin layer 17 of paper, cardboard, l

or hard synthetic material.

A pl-ug 18 is fitted within the barrel 10 at its lower end while another plug 19 is positioned within the barrel at its upper end. The manner in which these plugs are secured within the barrel will be described later. The

3,347,489 Patented Oct. 17, 1967 plug 18 is provided with a central opening 20 to provide a sup-port of the lower end of the spool on a spindle, indicated at 21, the lower end of the plug having an enlarged recess 22 which is formed with a triangular or rectangular cross-sectional configuration or whatever shape is required to mate with the driving element 23 of the spindle. Such connections are well known in the art and form no part of this invention. Attached to the lower end of the plug is a waste collar 24, as by means of screws 25. Further, if desired a knob 26 may be attached to the upper as by means of screws 27.

In response to the need for increasing the size and capacity of devices of this type it has been found practical to increase the [length of the spool so that it extends substantially above the upper end of the spindle. However, in order to stabilize the spool during the high speed of rota: tion to which it is subjected an additional support is provided within the barrel, which comprises an annular collar 28, preferably formed of some substantially rigid composition which, in turn, supports a concentrically positioned bushing 29, preferably fabricated of brass or similar material for axially slidably engagement with the upper end of the spindle 21.

Additionally a cylindrical tube, or guide, 30 extends between the plug 18 and the collar 28, the lower end of this guide being conveniently received within a countersunk portion 31 of the plug. Since the spindle does not extend substantially above the bushing 29 it is not essential that a guide be provided above the bushing but, in order to reduce the accumulation of dust within the barrel it is preferable to provide a cylindrical tube 32 extending between the collar 28 and the upper plug 19. The upper end of this latter tube may be received within a counter sunk portion 33 in the upper plug and, while the collar 28 could be countersunk to receive the end of the tubes 30 and 32, a convenient way of securing them is to ex tend the bushing 24 axially a slight distance above and below the collar to provide a radial anchor for the tubes.

The manner in which the barrel and the end flanges are joined together to provide an assembly capable of withstanding extremely high axial forces will now be described.

The method of means for maintaining the various ele 'ments of the spool in assembled condition, so as to withstand extremely high axial forces, will now be described. Since in this modified form of device the means for attaching the flanges to each end of the barrel is the same it will only be necessary to describe in detail the procedure used at one end. One of the features of this assembly is the provision of a locking ring indicated generally by numeral 34 in FIG. 3. While this ring could be fabricated by machining or die casting, it has been found practical to form this ring of a material such as aluminum by extruding it from a specially designed die in the form of a straight strip, as shown in FIG. 2. Whatever method is employed the strip comprises a relatively thin medial web portion, indicated generally by numeral 35, which connects an upper rib portion, indicated generally by numeral 36,-with a lower flange portion, indicated generally by numeral 37, having a generally triangular cross-section.

After the strip has been extruded it is cut into lengths and formed in the shape of a split ring (as shown in FIG. 3) having a diameter such that the laterally projecting lip 38 of the rib may be pushed into the end of the barrel 10, when the ring is contracted, without difficulty. Inward movement of the locking ring is limited by the abutment of the sloping outer face 39 of the flange with the bevelled surface 40 provided around the outer end of the central opening 13 in the flange 11. In this position the lip 38 will be in axial alignment with a complementary annular recess 41 provided on the interior of the barrel.

To assemble the lower end of the spool the barrel 10, having the collar 28 and the bushing 29 already in place is inserted into the counterbored portion of the opening in the end flange 11. Next, the formed locking ring 34 is pushed into the end of the barrel with the rib portion 36 innermost. After this the plug 18 with the guide 30 is inserted axially into the barrel inside the locking ring. In this connection, it should be noted that while the outer surface 42 of the web of the locking ring is preferably cylindrical to mate with the inside of the barrel, the inner surface 43 of the locking ring, may be provided with a Slight taper extending radially outwardly in the direction from the rib 36 to the flange 37. Similarly, the peripheral surface of the plug 18 may be provided with. a complementary taper running in the opposite direction.

Thus it will be seen that regardless of whether the locking ring is originally fabricated with a diameter equal to its expanded condition or its contracted condition, the completion of the insertion of the plug 18 into the barrel will insure the expansion of the locking to position the lip 38 Within the recess 41 and the positive abutment of the sloping surface 39 against the beveled surface 40 in which position it will be realized that it is virtually impossible for the flange 11 to move axially in either direction with respect to the barrel 10. It should also be understood that while the laterally outwardly extending portion of the flange 37 has been shown as having a straight tapered face, it would also be possible to substitute a laterally projecting rib or a radial flange, provided only that the mating surface around the opening in the end flange 11 be appropriately shaped to complement the shape used on the locking ring. Obviously, the waste collar 24 can be attached to the plug either before or after its insertion. The attachment of the upper endflange 12 to the barrel is accomplished in substantially the same manner as has just been described.

After the upper end of the barrel is inserted into the counterbore 16 the locking ring 34' is inserted followed by the plug 19 with the tube 32. The upper end of the barrel is provided with an annular recess 41 to receive the rib portion of the locking ring and the outer end of the central opening in the end flange is provided with the appropriate surface 45 to mate with the flange of the locking ring. It will be obvious that the knob 26 can be secured to the plug 19 either before or after its insertion,

into the barrel.

A modified form of locking ring and method of assembly is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. In these figures only one end of a barrel 44 is shown, provided if desired, with an outer coating 45. As in the previously described spool, the end of the barrel may be received within a counterbored portion 46 of the central opening in an end flange, or head, 47. The outer end of the central opening may also be bevelled as indicated by numeral 48. As in the previous modification a locking ring, indicated generally by numeral 49 may be cast, machined or preferably extruded in the form of a straight strip, cut off to the proper length, and formed in the shape of a split ring.

This locking ring differs from the one previously described, in that as originally formed the inner and outer surfaces, 50 and 51 respectively, need not be tapered but may be substantially cylindrical, one end of the ring having a radially outwardly projecting lip 52 to be received within the annular recess 53 provided on the inner periphery of the barrel adjacent the end. However, before the locking ring is placed in the barrel, an expander ring, indicated generally by numeral 54, is placed within the barrel as shown in FIG. 4.

The expander ring comprises an annular body portion having cylindrical inner and outer surfaces, 55 and 56 respectively. The inner surface 55 extends along the entire axial length of the expander whereas the outer, surface 56, having a diameter suflicient to provide a sliding fit within the barrel 44 terminates part way down the side of the ring in a radial abutment 57 which defines a skirt portion 58 having a cylindrical external surface terminating at its lower end and inwardly directed taper, or bevel, 59.

In assembling the device, the expander ring 54 is first pushed up into the barrel as shown in FIG. 4. The locking ring 49 should then be inserted from the lower end with the lip 52 in alignment with the recess 53. This having been done the expanderring is moved axially downwardly until the taper 59 comes in contact with the upper end of the locking ring. Continued downward movement of the expander. ring will force the locking ring outwardly to seat the lip in the recess 53 in the same manner in Y until both are snugly seated against the bevelled portion 48 of the central opening in the head 47 Having disclosed several forms in which this invention may be embodied, it will be obvious that further changes and improvements may be made by those skilled in the art which would come within the scope of the annexed claims.

I claim:

1. A spool for textile filaments and the like comprising a cylindrical hollow barrel, a disc-shaped end flange, a split arcuate retaining member, and an end plug, said flange having a central aperture extending therethrough, a portion of the length of the inner surface of said aperture being cylindrical for receiving one end of the barrel therein, said cylindrical portion terminating in a medial inwardly directed ridge for limiting axial movement of the barrel in one direction, the inner surface of the remaining portion of said aperture being frusto-conically shaped in an axially outwardly expanding direction, the inner surface of the barrel being provided with an annular groove spaced fromsaid one end, said split retaining member having a generally cylindrical inner surface, the outer. peripheral surface thereof having an annular outwardly directed ridge for engagement withsaid groove in the barrel and a portion complementary to the frustoconical portion of the end flange for engagement therewith, the outer diameter of the ridged portion when the retaining member is inwardly contracted being less than the inner diameter of the barrel, said plug being received within said retaining member and said one end of thebarrel and having a generally cylindrical peripheral surface for maintaining said retaining member in an expanded position.

2. The invention as definedin claim 1, wherein said generally cylindrical surface of the plug is slightly tapered in an axially outwardly expanding direction.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,630,791 5/ 1927 Gleason -242118.61 1,889,278 11/1932 Dunlap 242-118.61 1,987,991 1/1935 Clinton 2A2-118.61 2,589,389 3/1952 Hurst 242118.61 2,690,885 10/1954 Crooks 242118.4 X

FOREIGN PATENTS 205,258 10/ 1923 Great Britain.

GEORGE F. MAUTZ, Primary Examiner. 

1. A SPOOL FOR TEXTILE FILAMENTS AND THE LIKE COMPRISING A CYLINDRICAL HOLLOW BARREL, A DISC-SHAPED END FLANGE, A SPLIT ARCUATE RETAINING MEMBER, AND AN END PLUG, SAID FLANGE HAVING A CENTRAL APERTURE EXTENDING THERETHROUGH, A PORTION OF THE LENGTH OF THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID APERTURE BEING CYLINDRICAL FOR RECEIVING ONE END OF THE BARREL THEREIN, SAID CYLINDRICAL PORTION TERMINATING IN A MEDIAL INWARDLY DIRECTED RIDGE FOR LIMITING AXIAL MOVEMENT OF THE BARREL IN ONE DIRECTION, THE INNER SURFACE OF THE REMAINING PORTION OF SAID APERTURE BEING FRUSTO-CONICALLY SHAPED IN AN AXIALLY OUTWARDLY EXPANDING DIRECTION, THE INNER SURFACE OF THE BARREL BEING PROVIDED WITH AN ANNULAR GROOVE SPACED FROM SAID ONE END, SAID SPLIT RETAINING MEMBER HAVING A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL INNER SURFACE, THE OUTER PERIPHERAL SURFACE THEREOF HAVING AN ANNULAR OUTWARDLY DIRECTED RIDGE FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID GROOVE IN THE BARREL AND A PORTION COMPLEMENTARY TO THE FRUSTOCONICAL PORTION OF THE END FLANGE FOR ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH, THE OUTER DIAMETER OF THE RIDGE PORTION WHEN THE RETAINING MEMBER IS INWARDLY CONTACTED BEING LESS THAN THE INNER DIAMETER OF THE BARREL, SAID PLUG BEING RECEIVED WITHIN SAID RETAINING MEMBER AND SAID ONE END OF THE BARREL AND HAVING A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL PERIPHERAL SURFACE FOR MAINTAINING SAID RETAINING MEMBER IN AN EXPANDED POSITION. 